County’s jobless rate rose in August

October 5, 2013

Warren County's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 6.3 percent in July to 6.6 percent in August, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry's Center for Workforce Information and Analysis.

The labor force decreased from 21,500 in July to 21,400 in August, and the number of people unemployed remained steady at 1,400. The number of employed people remained steady at 20,100 in July and August.

According to the Center, the total number of non-farm jobs increased from 15,300 in July to 15,800 in August, while total private jobs increased from 13,700 to 13,800 during the same time period. Service-providing jobs increased significantly from 12,200 in July to 12,700 in August. Professional and business services increased from 1,600 in July to 1,700 in August, and were education and health services at remained steady at 3,100. Total government jobs increased from 1,600 in July to 2,000 in August with local government jobs increasing from 700 in July to 1,100 in August.

The current seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is lower than it was in August 2012 when it was 7.2 percent.

Warren County continues to have the lowest unemployment rate in the region compared to 11 percent in Forest County, 7.7 percent in Oil City, 7.5 percent in Bradford, 7.4 percent in Erie and 7.3 percent in Meadville.

Pennsylvania's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 7.7 percent and the national unemployment rate decreased slightly from 7.4 percent in July to 7.3 percent in August.

All figures are seasonally adjusted, and reported by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. Data changes of 100 may be due to rounding.